KR20210081902A - Plant cultivating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A plant cultivation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a body, a shelf, a cultivation bed, and a cultivation vessel. The shelf is formed in a cultivation space formed inside the body. The cultivation bed is placed on the shelf, and the cultivation vessel is mounted inside the cultivation bed. The cultivation bed includes a water supply unit in which a predetermined amount of water is accommodated. In addition, the shelf includes a water level sensor positioned vertically below the water supply unit to measure the amount of water accommodated in the water supply unit.

Description

Plant Cultivation Apparatus {PLANT CULTIVATING APPARATUS}

The present disclosure relates to a plant cultivation device, and more particularly, to a plant cultivation device configured to control whether watering is supplied by sensing the amount of water stored in a water supply unit.

As cities developed and buildings were densely packed, it became difficult to find arable land in the city where plants could be grown.

Apartment-type housing culture has taken hold, and only a small number of households have yards or vegetable gardens.

On the other hand, interest in direct cultivation of food materials is increasing due to fine dust and environmental pollution issues.

Accordingly, even households without a yard or a vegetable garden are increasingly equipped with pots or devices for cultivating plants in the living space.

Potted plants are not suitable for growing crops that are sensitive to temperature or humidity.

Specially set plant cultivation devices create an environment such as temperature and humidity required for specific crops. Accordingly, it becomes possible to germinate and cultivate a desired crop indoors.

As a technology related to a plant cultivation apparatus, Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2019-0132790 (hereinafter referred to as "related technology") discloses a "plant cultivation apparatus". The related technology creates a space for growing plants inside, and provides water and nutrients necessary for the growth of cultivated crops. However, crops thrive only when the proper temperature and humidity are maintained. The amount of water to be supplied must also be supplied in an appropriate amount and at the right time. However, in the related art, there is no configuration for separately measuring or controlling the amount of water supplied to crops.

Controlling the supply of an appropriate amount of water for growing crops is very helpful for the growth of cultivated crops. Therefore, it was necessary to improve such a technique.

The above-mentioned related technologies are technical information that the inventor possessed for the disclosed content or acquired in the process of derivation of the disclosed content, and cannot necessarily be said to be known technologies disclosed to the general public prior to the filing of the disclosed content.

One problem of the disclosed content is to solve the problem of the prior art in which it was difficult to accurately measure the amount of water supplied to a plant cultivation apparatus.

Another problem of the disclosed subject matter is to solve the problems of the prior art in which the water supplied for plant cultivation is intermittently supplied, and thus water is insufficient or a lot of water is supplied.

Another problem of the disclosed subject matter is to solve the problems of the prior art in which the structure is complicated and design is difficult by using a contact sensor to measure the amount of supplied water.

The tasks of the disclosed content are not limited to the content mentioned above, and other tasks or objects not mentioned may be understood by the following description.

A plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a body, a shelf, a cultivation bed, and a cultivation vessel. A shelf is formed in a cultivation space formed inside the body, a cultivation bed is placed on the shelf, and a cultivation vessel is mounted inside the cultivation bed.

The cultivation bed includes a water supply in which a predetermined amount of water is accommodated. In addition, the shelf includes a water level sensor positioned vertically below the water supply unit to measure the amount of water accommodated in the water supply unit.

In the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the bottom surface of the water supply unit and the water level sensor are spaced apart by a predetermined distance.

In the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water level sensor is supported by an elastic member on the shelf, and when the bottom surface of the water supply unit is in contact with the water level sensor, the water level sensor descends toward the shelf.

In the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the bottom surface of the water supply unit is formed to be inclined in one direction.

In the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water supply unit includes a pressing protrusion protruding downward from the bottom surface.

In the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water level sensor measures the amount of water accommodated in the water supply unit by measuring the capacitance of the water supply unit.

In the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cultivation bed is formed on one side of a position higher than the water supply unit, and includes an inlet that is an inlet through which water is introduced, and a water supply passage that is a flow path connecting the inlet and the water supply.

In the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cultivation vessel includes an opening through which the bottom surface is opened so that the water stagnated in the water supply unit is introduced.

In the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cultivation vessel has a lower end disposed adjacent to the opening, the upper end is disposed to face upward inside the cultivation vessel, and includes a wick made of a porous material to absorb water .

In the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the main body includes a control module for controlling at least one of temperature, humidity, and light quantity of a cultivation space.

In the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cultivation bed and the shelf are coupled through rails so that the cultivation bed slides in one direction on the shelf.

A plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a body, a shelf, a cultivation bed, and a cultivation vessel. The main body forms a cultivation space therein, and the cultivation space is opened or closed through a door coupled to at least one surface. The shelf is arranged horizontally in the cultivation space, and a water level sensor is provided. The cultivation bed is placed on a shelf and is a container with an open upper surface having a receiving space therein, and a water supply part for storing water is formed on the bottom surface. The cultivation vessel is disposed above the water supply part of the cultivation bed.

In addition, the water level sensor measures the amount of water stored in the water supply unit, and supplies water to the water supply unit when the amount of water stored in the water supply unit measured through the water level sensor is smaller than a predetermined amount.

In the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water level sensor is operated in a state where the cultivation bed is placed on the shelf.

According to the disclosed content, there is an effect that can accurately measure the amount of water supplied to plants in real time.

According to the disclosure, water for plant growth is supplied in real time based on the measured amount of water, so that an appropriate amount of water required for plants is continuously supplied.

According to the disclosure, by providing a non-contact sensor to measure the amount of supplied water, there is an effect of simplifying the configuration of the inside of the plant cultivation apparatus and making the design easier.

According to the disclosure, there is an advantage that reliable measurement is made by maintaining a constant distance between the non-contact sensor and the space in which water is stored.

Effects of the disclosed contents are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

1 is a perspective view and a partial cross-sectional view of a plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a cultivation bed in the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.
3 is a perspective view illustrating a cultivation bed and a sensor in a plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the arrangement relationship of the water supply and the sensor in the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.
5 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a gap between a water supply unit and a sensor in a plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which a pressing protrusion is formed on the bottom surface of the water supply in the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the cultivation bed is withdrawn from the shelf in the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
8 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a cultivation bed is slidably seated on a shelf in a plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which residual water detection and water supply are performed in the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosed content for description will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the detailed description.

1 is a perspective view and a partial cross-sectional view of a plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.

As shown in FIG. 1 , a plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a body 10 , a shelf 200 , and a cultivation bed 100 .

The cultivation bed 100 includes a cultivation vessel 110 and a tray 130 .

In the cultivation container 110, seeds of plants are planted, and exhaust air provided so that the plants take root is accommodated. The medium may be soil containing nutrients essential for the growth and development of crops. Alternatively, it may be a member of a material having properties similar to soil.

The body 10 is provided with a predetermined space therein. The predetermined space is the cultivation space 14 , which is a space for accommodating crops and creating an environment in which crops can grow. The body 10 may have various sizes and shapes.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, as shown in FIG. 1 , the body 10 may be formed as a rectangular parallelepiped, and a cultivation space 14 is provided therein, and at least one surface constituting the cultivation space 14 is can be opened One surface of the open cultivation space 14 is coupled to the door 12 to open or close the door 12 to the cultivation space 14 .

At least a part of the door 12 may be made of a transparent material. In addition, the user can observe the cultivation space 14 from the outside as a transparent part of the door 12 .

The door 12 may be provided with a locking device. The locking device of the door 12 may be set to open when the state of the cultivation space 14 meets a predetermined condition. This is to prevent a situation where the door 12 is opened and the seeds cannot germinate due to the user's carelessness during the germination period, which is an important period for the growth of crops. This is exemplary, and according to an embodiment to which the disclosed contents are applied, the body 10 and the door 12 may be implemented in various shapes, forms, and materials.

The main body 10 may be provided with a ventilation unit for ventilation therein. Ventilation is performed by discharging the air of the cultivation space 14 to the outside or introducing external air into the inside of the cultivation space 14 .

The shelf 200 is disposed in the cultivation space 14 . A plurality of shelves 200 may be formed in the cultivation space 14 . The shelf 200 is a structure that transversely crosses the cultivation space 14 . On the shelf 200, the cultivation bed 100 is placed thereon. The shelf 200 supports the load of the cultivation bed 100 .

A plurality of shelves 200 may be disposed vertically in the cultivation space 14 . In addition, at least one cultivation bed 100 may be seated on each shelf 200 .

The control module 20 may be formed on the upper portion of the shelf 200 . The control module 20 is disposed on the upper portion of the cultivation space 14, and is formed to spray steam downward, heat, or irradiate light. That is, it may include at least one of a vapor injection unit, a heating unit, and a light irradiation unit. The control module 20 controls the temperature, humidity, and light quantity inside the cultivation space 14 . Therefore, the cultivation space 14 inside the main body 10 may be provided with measuring means capable of measuring temperature, humidity, and amount of light. The control module 20 is operated based on the temperature, humidity, and light quantity inside the cultivation space 14 measured through the measuring means, and through this, the temperature, humidity, and light quantity inside the cultivation space 14 are maintained at predetermined values. can be

2 is a perspective view illustrating a cultivation bed 100 in a plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, and FIG. 3 is a cultivation bed 100 and a sensor in a plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure. is a perspective view showing

2 and 3 , the cultivation bed 100 includes a cultivation vessel 110 , a handle 120 , and a tray 130 . The cultivation vessel 110 has a wide bottom surface and has an open top surface as described above. A medium may be accommodated inside the cultivation vessel 110 , and seeds are planted in the medium to germinate and grow crops. The medium may be formed in various forms, and different types of medium may be stacked and accommodated in the cultivation vessel 110 .

The cultivation vessel 110 is accommodated in the tray 130 . In addition, the culture vessel 110 may be formed with an opening in which at least a portion of the bottom surface communicates with the lower side and is opened. The opening is disposed above the water supply unit 136 , and serves as a passage through which water in the water supply unit 136 is introduced into the culture vessel 110 . A wick having a lower end disposed adjacent to the opening in the cultivation vessel 110 and an upper end facing the inside of the cultivation vessel 110 may be further included. The wick is made of a porous material and has the property of absorbing water well. Therefore, the water introduced into the opening may be uniformly supplied to the medium inside the cultivation vessel 110 through the wick.

The tray 130 forms a space in which the cultivation container 110 cannot be, and may be formed in the form of a drawer. A handle 120 is formed on one side of the tray 130, and the handle 120 may be shaped so that a user can grip it.

And the tray 130 may be provided with a water supply 136 . The water supply part 136 is formed by digging so that water can be stored in at least a portion of the tray 130 . The water supply unit 136 may form a predetermined path, and the culture vessel 110 is formed to be seated on the water supply unit 136 . The tray 130 has an inlet 132 formed on one side of a higher position than the water supply 136 . The inlet 132 is formed to protrude to one side of the tray 130 as a place where water is supplied, and when water flows into the upper portion, it flows into the water supply passage 134 . The water supply passage 134 is a passage connecting the inlet 132 and the water supply 136 . Since the inlet 132 is formed at a higher position than the water supply 136 , the water supplied to the inlet 132 flows to the water supply 136 along the water supply passage 134 .

And, the cultivation bed 100 may be inserted into the cultivation space 14 by sliding in one direction on the shelf 200 or may be drawn out of the cultivation space 14 . At least one rail 140 may be formed below the cultivation bed 100 , and the rail 140 interferes with the shelf 200 to slide the cultivation bed 100 in one direction so that it can be moved.

And, the shelf 200 to be described later includes a water level sensor 210 . The water level sensor 210 is positioned vertically below the water supply unit 136 in a state in which the cultivation bed 100 is seated on the shelf 200 . The water level sensor 210 is a non-contact sensor and measures the height of the water pooled inside the water supply unit 136 .

4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the arrangement relationship between the water supply unit 136 and the sensor in the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, and FIG. 5 is a water supply unit in the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. It is a partial cross-sectional view showing the distance between (136) and the sensor.

4 and 5 , the water level sensor 210 is disposed vertically below the water supply unit 136 in a state in which the cultivation bed 100 is seated on the shelf 200 . The water level sensor 210 may be formed of a sensor that measures capacitance. The water level sensor 210 measures the amount of water contained in the water supply unit 136 by measuring the capacitance of the water supply unit 136 . The water level sensor 210 is a water supply unit 136 that is the lower surface of the cultivation bed 100 so as not to contact or interfere with the lower surface of the cultivation bed 100 while the cultivation bed 100 slides and is seated on the upper side of the shelf 200 . ) is spaced apart from the bottom surface at a predetermined distance (d).

6 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the pressure protrusion 138 is formed on the bottom surface of the water supply unit 136 in the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 6 , a pressing protrusion 138 protruding downward may be formed on the bottom surface of the water supply unit 136 . At this time, the water level sensor 210 is coupled to the shelf 200 so that its height is adjusted. Specifically, the water level sensor 210 is fixed to the shelf 200 via the elastic member 212, and when a pressure from above acts on the water level sensor 210, the height of the water level sensor 210 is lowered. . And, when the force pressing the water level sensor 210 is removed, the water level sensor 210 rises back to its original position.

Accordingly, the pressure protrusion 138 formed on the bottom surface of the water supply unit 136 presses the water level sensor 210 from the top to the bottom, and the water level sensor 210 and the bottom surface of the water supply unit 136 and a certain interval (d) by a certain distance (d). to be spaced apart.

7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the cultivation bed 100 is withdrawn from the shelf 200 in the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, and FIG. 8 is a plant cultivation according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. It is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cultivation bed 100 is slidably seated on the shelf 200 in the apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the bottom surface of the water supply unit 136 may be formed to be inclined toward one direction. Therefore, when the cultivation bed 100 slides in one direction on the shelf 200, the bottom surface of the water supply part 136 made of an inclined surface gradually presses the water level sensor 210, and the water level sensor 210 of the bottom surface of the water supply. As it comes into contact with the inclined surface, it is pushed downward.

Therefore, in the process in which the cultivation bed 100 is mounted on the shelf 200 , the water level sensor 210 does not interfere with the path of the cultivation bed 100 , and the water level sensor 210 is connected to the water supply unit 136 in advance. They may be spaced apart at a predetermined interval.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which residual water detection and water supply are performed in the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the plant cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure measures the amount of water stored in the water supply unit 136 in real time by performing the sensor operation step S10 . The sensor operation step (S10) first detects whether the cultivation bed 100 is in the correct position (S20). If the cultivation bed 100 is not in the correct position, a signal output S22 notifies the user that the cultivation bed 100 is not properly mounted. Then, if the cultivation bed 100 is in the correct position, the residual water amount detection step (S30) is performed. It is determined whether water supply is necessary through detection of the residual water amount (S40) and water supply (S50) is performed or the residual water amount is continuously detected.

In the above, embodiments of the disclosed contents have been described with the drawings, which are exemplary and the contents disclosed with the above-described embodiments and drawings are not limited. It is apparent that those of ordinary skill in the art can change the embodiments of the disclosed content within the scope of the technical idea of the disclosed content. In addition, although an action or effect according to the configuration is not explicitly described while describing an embodiment of the content disclosed above, it is natural that even the effects predictable by the configuration should be recognized.

10: body 12: door
14: cultivation space
20: control module
100: cultivation bed 110: cultivation vessel
120: handle 130: tray
132: inlet 134: water supply passage
136: water supply 138: pressure projection
140: rail
200: shelf 210: water level sensor
212: elastic member

Claims (13)

a body forming a cultivation space therein and opening or closing the cultivation space through a door coupled to at least one surface;
a shelf arranged horizontally in the cultivation space and provided with a water level sensor;
a cultivation bed placed on the shelf and having an open upper surface having an accommodation space therein, and having a water supply unit formed on the bottom surface for storing water; and
Containing; and a cultivation vessel disposed on the water supply portion of the cultivation bed;
The water supply unit is located above the water level sensor, and the water level sensor measures the amount of water stored in the water supply unit.
plant growing device. According to claim 1,
The bottom surface of the water supply and the water level sensor are spaced apart by a predetermined distance,
plant growing device. According to claim 1,
The water level sensor is supported by an elastic member on the shelf, and when the bottom surface of the water supply unit is in contact with the water level sensor, the water level sensor descends toward the shelf,
plant growing device. 4. The method of claim 3,
The bottom of the water supply is inclined in one direction,
plant growing device. 4. The method of claim 3,
The water supply unit,
Including, a pressing protrusion protruding downward on the bottom surface
plant growing device. According to claim 1,
The water level sensor measures the capacitance of the water supply,
plant growing device. According to claim 1,
The cultivation bed,
an inlet that is formed on one side of a higher position than the water supply and is an inlet through which water is introduced; and
Containing, a water supply passage that is a passage connecting the inlet and the water supply.
plant growing device. According to claim 1,
The cultivation vessel,
Containing;
plant growing device. 10. The method of claim 9,
The cultivation vessel,
The lower end is disposed adjacent to the opening, the upper end is disposed to face upward in the inside of the cultivation vessel, and a wick made of a porous material to absorb water; including,
plant growing device. According to claim 1,
The body is
Containing, a control module for adjusting at least one of temperature, humidity, and light quantity of the cultivation space
plant growing device. According to claim 1,
The cultivation bed and the shelf,
coupled through a rail so that the cultivation bed slides in one direction on the shelf,
plant growing device. a body forming a cultivation space therein and opening or closing the cultivation space through a door coupled to at least one surface;
a shelf arranged horizontally in the cultivation space and provided with a water level sensor;
a cultivation bed placed on the shelf and having an open upper surface having an accommodation space therein, and having a water supply unit formed on the bottom surface for storing water; and
Containing; and a cultivation vessel disposed on the water supply portion of the cultivation bed;
The water level sensor measures the amount of water stored in the water supply unit, and supplies water to the water supply unit when the amount of water stored in the water supply unit measured through the water level sensor is smaller than a predetermined amount,
plant growing device. 13. The method of claim 12,
The water level sensor is
The cultivation bed is operated in a state placed on the shelf,
plant growing device.

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